Improvement in preparing matrices for type by the electrotyping process



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS W. STARR, .OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. "i

IMPROVEMENT IN PREPARING MATRICES FOR TYPE BY THE ELECTROTYPTNG PROCESS.

Specilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 4,130, dated-August 4, 1845.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS W. STARR, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State or' Pennsylvania, have invented a new and improved manner of `constructing matrices of copper or other metal for casting the face of types, borders, and other ornamental cuts used in printing; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description of my method, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

I in the rst place takea plate of copper of a little greaterithickness than the depth of the matrix is required to be (see Figure l) and make a hole, a, in one end of the same, the sides of the opening to slant outward at an angle of forty-five degrees, (more or less.) Itheninsert the face of a type or .cut from which I desire to form a matrix through the smallest end of the opening a and a little greater distance into the opening than the depth of the matrix is required to be, so as to allow for smoothing and polishing its surface after the matrix is formed. I then firmly secure them in that p0- sition and after connecting a copper conducting-wire, b, to them cover the whole with a coating of wax, save the face of the type, the opening in the plate surrounding the same, and a narrow margin around the edge of the opening, as represented in Fig. 2, two matrixplates being represented connected together. The type-plate and conducting-wire as thus prepared is placed in asolution of sulphate of copper, (the usual preparation for electrotyping.) The conducting-wire b is then connected with the pole of a galvanic battery, the op posite pole being connected to a piece of copper i, be acted upon at the Same time.

in the usual manner practiced in electrotyping. l As soon as a sufficient quantity of copper is deposited upon the face of the type andV the cavity surrounding it is entirely iilled the Whole is withdrawn from the solution, thewax is removed, and the type is separated from the matrix-plate, the back of the matrix-plate then Any number of matrix-plates may be placed side by side and secured to each other and all Having thus fully described my method of forming the matrices for casting the face of printerstype and other articles therein, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The manner of forming the same by means of a common type or cut and a metallic plate with an opening with slanting sides, the two arranged and prepared in the manner herein described and placed in a solution of sulphate of copper and connected with the pole of a galvanic battery in the same manner usually practiced in eleetrotyping, and after receiving a sufficient deposit of copper to be fitted up 'for use in the manner herein set forth.

THOMAS W. STARR. Witnesses:

Z. G. ROEEINS, WM. COOPER. 

